Bedpan



April 19, 1966 D. M. SAULSON BEDPAN Filed Feb. 4. 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 14! i /fe 1 INVENTOR. 24226245442150 'BY: K

ATTORNE Y April 19, 1966 D. M. SAULSON 3,246,344

BEDPAN Filed Feb. 4, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY April 9, 1966 D. M. SAULSON 3,246,344

BEDPAN 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 4, 1964 INVENTOR iazzzZ fllfikalsaig,

BY 5M W ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,246,344 BEDPAN Daniel M.Saulson, Rye, N.Y., assignor to H.M.B. Inc., a corporation of DelawareFiled Feb. 4, 1964, Ser. No. 342,420 14 Claims. (Cl. 4-112) Thisinvention relates to bedpans for use by invalids or patients who are forother reasons confined in bed.

Numerous forms of bedpans are known in the prior art and have beenemployed in actual service, but these, as well known, suffer drawbacksfor one reason or another. Among the principal drawbacks encountered inbedpans heretofore employed may be mentioned their unwieldy size; ashape which causes discomfort to the patient occupying the pan in use,and/or which causes the pan to shift, slide or otherwise becomedisplaced from a proper position beneath the patient; and the difficultyas well as dis-com; fort encountered in the use of the pan by a patientin a prone position.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a bedpan which is soconstructed as to overcome the foregoing and other objections whichattend or are inherent in presently known forms of bedpans.

More particularly, an object of the invention is to provide a bedpanhaving an anatomical contour such as to eliminate or greatly reducediscomfort to the patient using the same.

Still another object is to provide a bedpan of the character referred toand so constructed as to enable it to be readily slipped into positionbeneath a patient and which will enable it to remain firmly in placewithout tendency to shift or slide therefrom.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bedpan an aforesaid,which will enable it to be used by a patient while lying flat on hisback, so that the support for patients back will be suppliedsubstantially entirely by the mattress, rather than in part by the pan,requiring the patients back to be arched up.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a bedpan as aforesaidso constructed as to enable it to be used either by an adult or a child.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be more apparent fromthe detailed description and from the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a view in top plan of a bedpan constructed according to theinvention;

FIG. 2 is a view taken longitudinally thereof along line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view of the bedpan is end elevation at the wider endthereof;

FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 are transverse sectional views taken along lines 4-4,'5-5, and 6-6, respectively, of BIG. 1, and looking in the direction ofthe arrows indicated for each of these views;

FIG. 7 is a view in side elevation, showing the position of the pan whenin use by a patient in a prone position;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary view, in plan, showing a modification of thebedpan shown in FIGS. 1 to 6; and

FIG. 9 is a view taken along line 9-9 of FIG. 8.

The bedpan embodying the invention is of unitary construction and may beformed from metal, such as stainless steel, as well as various othersuitable materials. Preferably, however, it is molded, as by blowmolding the same, from a synthetic plastic resin, such as high densitypolyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene,acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer, and the like.

Referring to the drawings, it will be seen that in plan view the bedpan,indicated generally by numeral 5, is of somewhat trapeziform' outlinebut with the sides thereof, which extend .generally in the direction ofthe longitudinal axis of the bedpan, being curved as hereinafter morespecifically described.

As shown in the drawing, the bedpan of the invention comprises a bottomwall, indicated generally at 10, joined to a relatively wide rear wall11 and to a relatively narrow forward wall 12, as well as to the sidewalls, indicated generally by numerals 1'5, 16. Each of the latter wallsis joined to the corresponding end of rear wall 11 by a relatively smallquarter-round curved portion 15a, 16a. From the outer ends 15b, 16b ofthe latter, the respective side walls are of longitudinally curvedcontour as shown at 150, 160, substantially throughout th length of theside walls and extending outwardly with respect to the longitudinallyaxis of the bedpan. The opposite end 15d, 16d of each thus curved sidewall 16, 16 is joined to the corresponding end of forward Wall 12 by arounded section 152, 16c, respectively.

The sidewalls 15, 16 are preferably curved slightly along the transversedimension thereof, this curvature being somewhat varied along thelongitudinal dimension of the side walls, as shown in FIGS. 3 to 6,inclusive.

In terms of practical dimensions, the bedpan may be of an overall lengthof between 13 and 14 inches; a width of approximately '12 to 13 inchesat the rear end thereof; and a width of approximately 3 inches at theforward end thereof.

As will be seen, particularly from FIG. 2, the bottom wall 10 of thebedpan comprises a portion 18 of somewhat triangular outline disposedsubstantially in a horizontal plane. This portion extends rearwardlyfrom the forward wall 12 for a major portion of the longitudinaldimension of the bedpan. This horizontal portion 18, of the bottom wall10 thus serves to support the bedpan in horizontal position. Inaccordance with the invention, the remaining portion 20 of the bottomwall is of substantially rectangular outline with its major axis at aright angle to the longitudinal axis of the bedpan, and extends from theinner transverse end 21 of the horizontally disposed triangular portion18 to the rear wall 11. This portion 20 is inclined upwardly at an angleof about 20 to 30 degrees with respect to the horizontal portion 18 ofthe bottom wall.

Further, in accordance with the invention, rear wall 11 is disposed,throughout the length thereof between the inner ends 15 161 of thequarter round portions 15a, 16a in a plane which extends substantiallyat a right angle to that of the portion 18 of the bottom wall, and issubstantially parallel to the transverse axis of the bedpan, as shownparticularly in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. The fact that rear wall 11 isessentially straight throughout its length provides stability to thebedpan and prevents it from rocking when positioned beneath a patient ina prone position, with the rear wall 11 and portion 20 of the bottomwall pressed (by the weight of the patient) into a bed mattress. This isin marked contrast to bedpan constructions wherein the rear wall and/orthe adjoining portions of the bot-tom are rounded transversely of thepan, thus permitting the bedpan to rock when thus positioned.

The length of the rearwall 11, in conjunction with the fact that it isstraight substantially throughout the length thereof, i.e., essentiallymono-planar, contributes to the stability referred to above, and servesalso to increase the cubic contents of the bedpan, Thus, the rear wall11 may be relatively shallow while nevertheless providing a bedpan ofadequate cubic contents.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 the forward wall 12 is preferably likewisedisposed in a plane extending substantially at a right angle to that ofportion 18 of the-bottom wall, but is preferably slightly curvedlongitudinally with respect to the transverse axis of the bedpan.

Preferably, as in the modified embodiment shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, theforward wall is provided centrally along the upper edge thereof with arectangular notch 24 about three-quarters of an inch deep and extendingpreferably the, full length of this wall. This notch serves tofacilitate the pouring or draining of the contents of the bedpan whendisposing of the same. This notch, additionally, -serves to simplifymanufacture of the bedpan when produced by blow-molding processes.

The top wall of the bedpan, indicated generally by numeral 25, extendsinwardly from the rear wall 11 and side walls 15, 16 and slopesdownwardly with respect to bottom wall 10, at a relatively small anglefrom the upper end of the forward wall 12 to the upper end of therearwall-11.

Thus, as'will be seen particularly from FIGS. 2, 3 and 7, the inclinedportion 20 of the bottom wall forms, with rear wall 11 and the rearportion of the top wall 25, a wedge-shaped portion at the rear andrelatively wide end of the bedpan.

At its rear, shallow end, this wedge-shaped portion is of a height notsubstantially in excess of about one and one-half inches, and at itsdeep end, i.e., atthe line 21, where the triangular portion 18 of thebottom wall joins the rectangular portion 20 thereof, it is of a heightof approximately three inches, the height of forward wall 12 being ofthe order of about three and one-half inches.

The above-described wedge-shaped portion of the bedpan serves severalimportant purposes and advantages. Thus, it enables ready placing of thebedpan under a patient; it avoids the necessity for arching the back ofa patient when using the bedpan in a prone position, as shownin FIG. 7;and it enables the support for the patients back, when using the bedpanin that position, to be thereof, and with surfaces 31, 32, 33 whichareinclineddownwardly from the periphery 35 of surface'30 to the outermargin of the top wall,'at which they join the rear and sidewalls. Thesesurfaces 30, 31, 32, 33 are formed so as to be disposed symmetricallywith respect to the longitudinal axis of the bedpan. The inner periphery36 of the curved marginal surface 30 is of a contour to provide arelatively large oval-shaped opening 37 disposed centrally of thebedpanand extending in its longitudinal dimension partly over inclinedportion 20 and partly over horizontal portion 18 of the bottom wall 10.1

Thus, the bedpan may be utilized by a patient either in a sittingposition (when the bedpan is disposed in horizontal position on thebottom portion 18) or in a prone position (when the bedpan is disposedat an inclined position and supported on'the inclined portion 20);

The portion of top wall 25 extending along the rear wall 11 is providedcentrally thereof with a depression,

indicated generally by numeral 39, which serves to clear 4 the coccyxbone of the patient. This depression extends the entire distance fromthe rear wall 11 to the edge of the opening 37, and may comprise arectangular central portion 391: extending in a horizontal plane,bounded by inclined portions 39b.

At its narrow end, the opening 37 terminates in oppositely disposedupwardly and outwardly shaped portions or humped surfaces 40 providinga'throat separating the opening 37 from a relatively smaller,oval-shaped opening 42 which extends rearwardly from forward wall- 12.The opening 42 is bounded by a concavely curved marginal surface 43,joined at its inner end to the humped surfaces 40 and contoured, inconjunction with the dimension and shape of this opening, forcomfortable support of a child on the bedpan.

The inner peripheral edge 56 of opening 37 and the inner peripheral edge45 ofthe smaller opening 42 are provided with downwardly extendingrelatively shallow lips 50, 51, respectively, to prevent these edgesfrom otherwise pressing and biting into the flesh of the patientsbuttocks in normal use of the bedpan. The lip 45, in the embodimentshown in FIGS. 8 and 9, terminates at the vertical edges of the notch24, and in the embodimeut of FIGS. 1 to 6 terminates substantially atthe sides of forward wall 12 so as not to extend along the upper edge ofthat wall. Thus, the lip does not interfere with pouringor draining out.the contents of the bedpan. The lips 50, 51 serve also to impartlocalized stiffening at the edges 36 and 45 of openings 37 and 42,respectively. In addition,'these lips serve to simplify the trimmingand; other manufacturing operations in producing the bedpan.

' axis of the receptacle, a forward wall of a Width substan-" tiallyless than that of'said rear wall, elongated, curved side walls joiningthe corresponding ends of said rear and forward walls, a bottom walljoining said rear, forward and side walls, said bottom wall having aportion disposed in a substantially horizontal plane between said sidewalls and extending a major portion of the distance between said forwardwall andsaid rear Wall, and having a portion of substantiallyrectangular outline disposed in a plane inclined upwardly with respectto said first-named portion v and extending the remainder of saiddistance between said forward wall and said rear wall, and a top wallextending inwardly from said rear and side walls to provide anovalshaped opening disposed above said bottom wall and extending partlyover said upwardly inclined portion thereof and partly oversaidhorizontally extending portion there- 2. A bedpan as defined in claim 1,wherein said inclined portion of said bottom wall forms, with said rearwall, said .top and the rear portion'of said side walls, a wedge-shapedportion at the'rear end of the receptacle.

3.'A bedpan as defined in claim 2, wherein said rear wall, definingtheshallow end of said wedge-shaped por-' tion of the receptacle, is ofa height of the order of about one and one-half inches.

. 4. A bedpan comprising a receptacle having:

(a) a bottom wall formed with a portion thereof disposed substantiallyin a horizontal plane and with the remaining portion thereof disposed atan angle extending upwardly with respect to the plane of saidfirst-named'portion,'said first-named portion being of generallytriangular outline truncated at its apex, said second-named portionbeing of a substantially rec- 'tangular outline with'its major axisextending at a right angle to the longitudinal axis of the receptacle;upwardly from said bottom (b) sidewalls extending wall; and a (c) A topwall joining said side Walls; said topwall havingan oval-shaped openingdisposedpartially' over said horizontal portion of the bottom Wall, andpartially over said angularly disposed portion of the bottom wall,whereby a patient may be positioned on'the bedpan either in a seatedposition with the bedpan resting on said horizontal'portion of itsbottom wall orin a prone position with the bedwith said first-namedopening, said second-named opening being of a contour to permit a childto be seated on the bedpan.

6. A bedpan as defined in claim 3, and wherein the deep end of saidwedge-shaped portion is of a height of the order of about three inches.

7. A bedpan as defined in claim 4, wherein said receptacle has a forwardwall joined at the lower end thereof to said bottom wall along saidtruncated apex of the triangular portion of the bottom wall.

8. A bedpan as defined in claim 7, wherein said forward wall is providedat the upper edge thereof with a centrally disposed notch to facilitatedraining the contents of the receptacle.

9. A bedpen as defined in claim 4, wherein the peripheral edge of saidtop wall which forms the edge of said oval-shaped opening therein isprovided with a downwardly extending shallow lip.

10. A bedpan as defined in claim 5, wherein the peripheral edge of saidtop wall which forms the edge of said oval-shaped opening and the edgeof said smaller opening therein is formed with a downwardly extendingshallow lip, said lip terminating substantially at the sides of saidforward wall.

11. A bedpan as defined in claim 1, blow-molded from a synthetic plasticresin.

12. A bedpan as defined in claim 4, blow-molded from a synthetic plasticresin.

13. A bedpan as defined in claim 4, wherein said upwardly extendingportion of the bottom wall forms, with said top wall and the rearportion of said side walls, a Wedge-shaped portion at the rear end ofthe receptacle.

14. A bedpan as defined in claim 13, wherein said wedge-shaped portionis of a height not substantially in excess of about one and one-halfinches at the shallow rear end thereof.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,642,255 9/1927Lowenstein 4-112 2,304,631 12/1942 Ensing 4-112 2,611,903 9/1952 Wakeman4--1 12 2,639,439 5/1953 Perry 41 12 2,712,136 7/1955 Ring 4-1122,741,777 4/1956 Loye 41 12 3,160,893 12/1964 Steel et al. 4-412 FOREIGNPATENTS 524,125 4/ 1956 Canada.

1,299,786 6/ 1962 France.

LAVERNE D. GEIGER, Primary Examiner.

1. A BEDPAN COMPRISING A RECEPTACLE HAVING A REAR WALL OF A WIDTH CONSTITUTING SUBSTANTIALLY THE MAXIMUM WIDTH OF THE RECEPTACLE, SAID WALL BEING DISPOSED SUBSTANTIALLY IN A VERTICAL PLANE AND WITH ITS LONGITUDINAL AXIS EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY AT A RIGHT ANGLE TO THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF THE RECEPTACLE, A FORWARD WALL OF A WIDTH SUBSTANTIALLY LESS THAN THAT OF SAID REAR WALL, ELONGATED, CURVED SIDE WALLS JOINING THE CORRESPONDING ENDS OF SAID REAR AND FORWARD WALLS, A BOTTOM WALL JOINING SAID REAR, FORWARD AND SIDE WALLS, SAID BOTTOM WALL HAVING A PORTION DISPOSED IN A SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL PLANE BETWEEN SAID SIDE WALLS AND EXTENDING A MAJOR PORTION OF THE DISTANCE BETWEEN SAID FORWARD WALL AND SAID REAR WALL, AND HAVING A PORTION OF SUBSTANTIALLY RECTANGULAR OUTLINE DISPOSED IN A PLANE INCLINED UPWARDLY WITH RESPECT TO SAID FIRST-NAMED PORTION AND EXTENDING THE REMAINDER OF SAID DISTANCE BETWEEN SAID FORWARD WALL AND SAID REAR WALL, AND A TOP WALL EXTENDING 